Abstract

We propose a novel approach to realizing massively parallel optical
interconnects based on commercially available multifiber ribbons with
MT-type connectors and custom-designed planar-integrated free-space
components. It combines the advantages of fiber optics, that is, a
long range and convenient and flexible installation, with those of
(planar-integrated) free-space optics, that is, a wide range of
implementable functions and a high potential for integration and
parallelization. For the interface between fibers and free-space
optical systems a low-cost practical solution is presented. It
consists of using a metal connector plate that was manufactured on a
computer-controlled milling machine. Channel densities are of the
order of 100/mm2 between optoelectronic VLSI chips and
the free-space optical systems and 1/mm2 between the
free-space optical systems and MT-type fiber
connectors. Experiments in combination with specially designed
planar-integrated test systems prove that multiple one-to-one and
one-to-many interconnects can be established with not more than 10%
uniformity error.

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